Catalog Year: 2020-2021
The sociology doctoral degree provides rigorous training in public and applied social research, including skills in research design, data analysis, and substantive areas that are pertinent to various sectors in the Washington, D.C. area. Graduates have the theoretical, analytical, and professional skills that prepare them for academic positions in teaching or research. They are also well-qualified for nonacademic positions in the many settings that rely on the expertise of sociologists including human service agencies, marketing research firms, educational systems, nonprofit foundations, and law enforcement agencies.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Students who enter the program with a master's degree may be allowed a reduction of credit up to 30 credits subject to the approval of the graduate director and the dean.
Total credits: 72
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies. Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Following completion of all required coursework and passing a comprehensive exam, students are advanced to candidacy by the dean and complete a dissertation, an original and independent research project.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Sociology | ||
| SOCI 601 | Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology | 3 |
| Social Theory | ||
| SOCI 711 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOCI 712 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
| Required Methodology and Analysis Courses | ||
| SOCI 620 | Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | 3 |
| SOCI 636 | Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| Elective Methodology and Analysis Courses | ||
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Survey Research | ||
| Evaluation Research for Social Programs | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (when topic is Critical Theory, Critical Ethnography, or another course with written approval of the graduate director.) | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Ethnography | ||
| Historical and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Historical and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Analytic Techniques of Social Research | ||
| Methods in Anthropology | ||
| Feminist Approaches to Social Research | ||
| Feminist Research Practice | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Proseminars | ||
| SOCI 803 | Institutions and Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI 804 | Sociology of Globalization | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Gender and Social Structure | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Sociology of Culture | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives | ||
| International Migration in the Age of Globalization | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Political Sociology | ||
| Feminist Theory | ||
| Urban Inequality: From Watts to #Blacklivesmatter | ||
| Micro Sociology: Inequality and Everyday Life | ||
| Social Networks, New Media, and Inequality | ||
| Work Organizations and Social Inequality | ||
| Youth, Schooling, and Popular Culture | ||
| Society and Education | ||
| Cities in a Global Society | ||
| Sociology of Human Rights | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director) | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director) | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Proseminars | ||
| SOCI 803 | Institutions and Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI 804 | Sociology of Globalization | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Sociology of Culture | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives | ||
| International Migration in the Age of Globalization | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Political Sociology | ||
| Social Networks, New Media, and Inequality | ||
| Sociology of Development | ||
| Globalization and Social Movements | ||
| Cities in a Global Society | ||
| Sociology of Human Rights | ||
| Refugees in the Contemporary World | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director) | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director) | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select seven elective courses from any advanced courses in sociology. 1 | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
| 1 | With prior written approval of the graduate director, up to two courses from outside the sociology program that are not currently listed as approved courses (inclusive of consortium courses) may count toward degree requirements. |
To advance to candidacy, students must complete all coursework required on their approved program of study. Students must also successfully pass one written comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam tests students' mastery of the foundations of sociological inquiry, linking research methods and sociological theory to public concerns, as well as material in the student's area of concentration. It is administered by a faculty committee appointed by the graduate program director. Additionally, students must defend their dissertation proposal. Evidence of completed requirements must be on file in the Dean's Office before a student can advance to candidacy.
Once enrolled in SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation, students must maintain continuous registration each semester (excluding summers) until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries. Once enrolled in SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation, students must follow the university's continuous registration policy as specified in AP.6.10.6 Dissertation Research. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation.
Students complete a minimum of 3 credits of SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and 3 credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation. They may apply a maximum of 12 dissertation credits (SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation combined) to the degree. Because of the continuous registration policy, students may be required to register for additional credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation. Because students cannot register for credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation until they have advanced to PhD candidacy, they may choose (but are not required) to register for additional credits of SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Proposal | ||
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |